Leonardtown Man Shot in Chest with Crossbow Flown to Trauma Center

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~*~ rara avis ~*~

On Monday, November 26, 2018 at approximately 10:15 p.m., police fire and rescue personnel responded to Lady Baltimore Avenue, in Leonardtown for the reported shooting.

Dispatchers advised responding units that the victim, a 52-year old male, was shot in the chest with a crossbow.

The shooting was reportedly accidental, however police are investigating.

Emergency personnel arrived on scene at the residence and found the front door locked, firefighters forced entry to find the patient on the ground. He was reported to be conscious and breathing at the time.

Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 7 flew the single patient to an area trauma center with serious injuries.

If I may ...

Bolt=arrow. Bolt not set properly? Bolt underweight to the bow's minimum weight causing catastrophic failure of bow limbs when firing. Damaged carbon bolt with catastrophic failure upon firing. Damaged aluminum bolt with catastrophic failure upon firing. Today's crossbows have tremendous power. Some with 160 foot lbs + of kinetic energy and with draw weights of 195lbs or more. When that kind of energy is released upon a damaged, weakened, or light bolt, or an improperly set bolt, those bolts can go in every which way, including right back at you. My guess is there was a catastrophic failure, which also destroys the crossbow in the process. If the bolt was still in the victim, then it was a catastrophic failure. Because if it wasn't, the bolt would have gone completely through him and stuck itself in a wall or ceiling.

Imagine No Democrats

Well-Known Member

Bolt=arrow. Bolt not set properly? Bolt underweight to the bow's minimum weight causing catastrophic failure of bow limbs when firing. Damaged carbon bolt with catastrophic failure upon firing. Damaged aluminum bolt with catastrophic failure upon firing. Today's crossbows have tremendous power. Some with 160 foot lbs + of kinetic energy and with draw weights of 195lbs or more. When that kind of energy is released upon a damaged, weakened, or light bolt, or an improperly set bolt, those bolts can go in every which way, including right back at you. My guess is there was a catastrophic failure, which also destroys the crossbow in the process. If the bolt was still in the victim, then it was a catastrophic failure. Because if it wasn't, the bolt would have gone completely through him and stuck itself in a wall or ceiling.

~*~ rara avis ~*~

Bolt=arrow. Bolt not set properly? Bolt underweight to the bow's minimum weight causing catastrophic failure of bow limbs when firing. Damaged carbon bolt with catastrophic failure upon firing. Damaged aluminum bolt with catastrophic failure upon firing. Today's crossbows have tremendous power. Some with 160 foot lbs + of kinetic energy and with draw weights of 195lbs or more. When that kind of energy is released upon a damaged, weakened, or light bolt, or an improperly set bolt, those bolts can go in every which way, including right back at you. My guess is there was a catastrophic failure, which also destroys the crossbow in the process. If the bolt was still in the victim, then it was a catastrophic failure. Because if it wasn't, the bolt would have gone completely through him and stuck itself in a wall or ceiling.

If I may ...

With a catastrophic failure, anything is possible. During the machinations of a catastrophic failure a portion of a shattered bolt could be sent beck to the shooter. One thing though, if this guy used a broadhead on that bolt, he would be dead, from bleeding out. Appears the bolt had a field point (target) instead.

Well-Known Member

With a catastrophic failure, anything is possible. During the machinations of a catastrophic failure a portion of a shattered bolt could be sent beck to the shooter. One thing though, if this guy used a broadhead on that bolt, he would be dead, from bleeding out. Appears the bolt had a field point (target) instead.

I guess anything is possible, but to address your points, crossbows won't dry fire. You have to load the bolt all the way back and trip the anti-dry-fire mechanism. To do so, the bolt is held down by a piece below the entire scope and scope mount. The string is behind the bolt so in this hypothetical failure, the bolt would have somehow or another travel in the opposite direction of the potential energy of the xbow.

I hunt every year with a crossbow and simply can't see how it would fire backwards. Even with broken limbs.